Attrition-of-Justice Phenomenon in the Processing of Rape/Sexual Assault Cases

摘要

The extent to which, and the reasons why, the current mode of processing rape/sexual assault cases in Dallas County, Texas remits in a high rate of attrition from initial victimization to final disposition was assessed. The number of rapes and other sexual assaults reported to patrol which are never officially recorded or further investigated; the differences in cases which are handled informally from those for which a formal report is prepared; factors which affect decisions concerning charge classifications; factors which influence the patrol officers' decision to collect physical evidence, request a crime-scene search, or take the victim to the hospital for a physical examination; and factors which affect an officer's willingness to submit a detailed offense report for use by investigators were studied. The methodology for gathering data on attrition entailed monitoring each stage of the processing of all rape/sexual assault complaints filed within a 6-month period in a large metropolitan county.